Zgreb (Multiverse)

Zgreb is a Celestial who may or may not have originated during the time of the First Cosmos; however, what is known is that Celestials' counterparts across the Multiverse are interconnected aspects of themselves and not separate beings. Thus, the Zgreb of Earth-616 is one aspect of the true Zgreb.^[5]

Earth-616[]

Zgreb the Aspirant was a Celestial that came to Earth a million years ago in search of his fellow Celestial, the Progenitor. Upon finding the Progenitor, the Fallen became inflicted with the same Horde that affected it,^[1] causing him to become deranged. He was eventually defeated by the Avengers of the Stone Age and buried deep underground in what would become the modern-day country of South Africa, bound by powerful spells.

In modern times, a team of archaeologists uncovered the underground cavern where Zgreb had been sealed into, leading to their deaths at the hands of the Celestial. Later, Loki, the Asgardian God of Mischief,^[2] released Zgreb from his prison^[6] and used him bring about the Final Host of Dark Celestials,^[7] so that a threat of their magnitude would reassemble the modern-day Avengers.^[8] Some of Earth's heroes attempted to fend off the invaders to no avail.^[9]

Captain America used Alpha Flight's Omega-Level Warp Grenades to teleport the Dark Celestials to the Sun in an an attempt to destroy them, but it failed. They returned to Earth and traveled to the North Pole, where Loki showed Captain America the corpse of the Progenitor, a Celestial infected by the Horde who had fallen on Earth four billion years into the past.^[10] In the meantime, the Dark Celestials started bringing about the Earth's end, causing the ocean to boil and setting the air on fire.^[11] The Ghost Rider tracked down the Dark Celestials. He rescued Captain America and abducted Loki, prompting the Dark Celestials to chase after them. All of the heroes convened in Sweden shortly afterwards. Black Panther and Captain Marvel charged themselves with the same energy as the Horde, which allowed them go toe-to-toe against the insects. She-Hulk and Thor harnessed the power of the Blood of Ymir they had retrieved from Asgard. Ghost Rider used his powers to take hold of a dead Celestial's armor. Finally, Iron Man suited up on the Godkiller Armor MK II.^[1]

Despite their combined strength, the Avengers failed to overpower the Dark Celestials, and in the middle of the battle, the Horde revived the bodies of the Celestials they had infected and felled. After learning of the connection between the Progenitor's death, the Horde and the genetic makeup of humankind, Iron Man rallied the Avengers to join their energies to form a Uni-Mind, since he had been passed on the secrets on how to summon it by Ikaris while investigating the Dark Celestials' arrival. Using the Ghost Rider as a conduit for the Uni-Mind, the Avengers rendered the Horde dormant, reviving the zombified Celestials. The Avengers and the Celestials combined their forces and defeated the Dark Celestials.^[12] The Dark Celestials were subsequently apprehended by the Celestials and teleported away from Earth.^[8]

As an average Celestial, he possessed enough durability to withstand the flames of the Phoenix Force whose host claimed could melt a supernova as well as a blow from a flying Mjolnir.^[2]

It was noted by Agamotto,^[7] Odin,^[11] and the Machine that is Earth^[13] that Zgreb was severely weakened by the Horde infection and was nowhere near as strong as a healthy Celestial or a fully-fledged Dark Celestial when he fought the Stone Age Avengers.

• Loki speculates Zgreb and the Celestial he calls the "Progenitor" might have been lovers, though there are no words for such things in the Celestial language.^[1]

• According to Iron Fist, Zgreb's chi is brighter than Shou-Lao the Undying's. It is brighter than the Sun.^[2]